weird engine noise when cold.. ideas? (video clip)

[crash]

hey guys.. to start.. it's like -24 C here right now with the windchill. that's around -17 F for our american friends.

even though the engine gets up to temp and blows heat etc I have this noise. I couldn't think of how to describe it so I recorded a little clip. any ideas would be great.

I think my 94 did this a couple of times but it was something that never lasted. I can drive this one for an hour or more and it's still making it. it's not the belt. sounds too low of a freq for the water pump i think... and when I open the hood it sounds more to the front of the motor... could it just be the VERY cold air howling through the plastic air intake?

[safariobsession]

Could be the fan clutch making noise, since you said its coming from tht area. Why i say that is because mine started making a weird noise a bit different from that in the same area in this COLD weather. When you rev it up does it seem to stop or sound different?

[crash]

stop or sound different... hmm... kind of both it starts to sound different, then stops or seems it does until the rpms come back down a bit then it gets loud like the vid clip again

clutch fan.. hmm.. :-k

[safariobsession]

Hmm. Yea look into that clutch on the fan. Try this.... take about 3 feet of tubing and put one end to your ear and the other to various components around the front of the engine. Watch your hand! ...spinning parts sharp fan blade...ouch! haha Doing this will pinpoint the source of the noise. Let us know!

Rob